Tobacco dependence and schizophrenia: Tunisian cross-sectional study of 50 cases

Abstract

Introduction Tobacco-use is currently one of the major public health problems and is more common among patients with schizophrenia. Objectives We aimed in this study to estimate the prevalence of smoking in a population of patients with schizophrenia, to assess tobacco dependence and to identify its correlated factors. Methods This is a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study carried out on 50 outpatients at the Department of Psychiatry (Tunisia) over a period of two months. For the data collection, we used: a general questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco consumption and the Fagerström test for nicotine dependence. Results All the patients were male with a mean age of 32.7±7.02 years and 84% of them were tobacco consumers. More than half of the sample were single (68%) and had a primary school level (52%). A professional irregularity and low socio-economic level were found successively in 84% and 78% of cases. Half of the patients (52%) were diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and 46% of them were treated by atypical antipsychotics. Cigarette dependence was strong or very strong in 82% according to the Fagerstrom test. A positive correlation was found between strong tobacco dependence on the one hand and low socio-economic level, professional irregularity, smoking in a first-degree relative and treatment with a typical neuroleptic on the other hand. Conclusions Our study and data from the literature show that subjects with schizophrenia constitute a population of highly dependent smokers. A smoking cessation assistance program for this vulnerable population is a priority to improve their quality of life. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Keywords

• schizophrénia
• antipsychotic
• dependence
• Tobacco-use